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With only a week left until Christmas, many of us are scrambling to grab great gifts for our friends and family members! How do you choose something meaningful and fun for the recipient on your list? Here’s a gift guide for some of my favorite things.
Gift Guide for the Cook
I have always been a sucker for kitchen gadgets, some of which I absolutely could not live without (slight exaggeration, but you get the idea)! Many things make cute (but functional) stocking stuffers while others can be gift-wrapped and placed under the tree.
- The Pampered Chef Mix ‘N Chop. This is by far one of the most effective tools I use in the kitchen. From chopping ground beef or turkey to a perfect consistency to crushing crunchy onions or croutons for a meat coating, this versatile and useful gadget has earned a spot in my kitchen!
- Mueller Spiral-Ultra Multi-Blade Spiralizer. I bought this model specifically for making zoodles, or zucchini noodles. For those of you who are following a low carb or keto diet, this is a fabulous addition to any kitchen. Even if you aren’t, this 8 in one tool can grate, slice, act as a mandoline, and even juice! The best part? It’s all self-contained, which makes it easy to store. The blades are really sharp, so heed the warnings about cleaning!
- Ozeri Digital Scale. This is a basic, multifunctional kitchen scale that works perfectly for me. It has a “tare” button to weigh ingredients minus the weight of the dish. The “unit” button allows you to change the measurement desired (grams, ounces, milliliters, pounds, and pounds: ounces). It’s lightweight and easy to store, too.
- Silicone basting brush. This is a super tool for applying butter to freshly baked rolls to make them shine and much, much more. My silicone brush gets the most use spreading a small amount of oil over a large surface, such as a baking sheet. I use less oil this way which means fewer calories. Another bonus? I don’t have to buy cans of oil spray, which saves me money.
Gifts to Promote Family Time!
Family game night is still alive and well. How can you engage kids of all ages in this activity? Put the electronics away for a while and reconnect with each other. My Grandma loved to play games. My earliest recollections include playing Memory with her.
- No matter how old we are, Uno is a fun game. Read the instructions that come with it for more challenging and exciting twists if you become bored with the standard game-play! This inexpensive gift will provide years of entertainment and memories.
- For slightly older kids (8+), Clue is a fun game that makes you think. I bought my son the Harry Potter edition of Clue when he was reading the J.K. Rowling book series. This version of Clue adds a new spin and we play it on occasion to this day.
- Trouble, Sorry!, and Jenga, are games we have enjoyed together as a family. The beauty of starting kids off young playing games is that it teaches them so many things. For example, they learn patience by waiting for their turn. Children learn how competition means that sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. Games demonstrate that life isn’t always fair, but is a lot of fun! Challenging children to learn to strategize is also beneficial. I feel there are many life lessons we can teach while having lots of fun in the process.
- For little ones, Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders are both great picks. I was never a fan of letting my kids win a game. If I was beating the pants off of them over and over just because of the cards I drew, I may have done it so they weren’t completely defeated. I also took the opportunity to educate about the importance of keeping games organized so that they could be enjoyed for years to come. This included putting everything away neatly each time we played.
- Scrabble is a classic game that requires thought and strategy. Scrabble Junior is available too!
I could go on and on recommending games to you in my gift guide, but I will save some for another time.
Stocking Stuffers
I have recommended some of these items in my blog last year, but they are worth mentioning again.
- Betron Earbuds are still my top pick. These noise-canceling, inexpensive, durable buds last a long time, even with not-so-careful teens.
- The Original Slinky. This classic toy is entertaining for all ages. Those of us who are a little older love it for the nostalgia. Those younger folks on your list can have hours of fun making it walk down the stairs. My young adults still have the Slinky we bought them years ago sitting on their desks. Sometimes, I hear the sound of them playing with them. If you decide to buy one, please don’t waste money on the plastic version. Get the original metal toy.
- Rubik’s Cube. This is the ultimate solo puzzle brain game.
- Beard Kit. For the bearded guy on your list, this set includes beard balm, oil, a brush, combs, and scissors.
- Burt’s Bees Lip Balm. It’s winter. Everyone could use a natural beeswax lip balm.
- Darn Tough Socks. I absolutely love these socks! They are both warm AND thin. The colors are fun, and they’re available for men and women. People say socks are terrible gifts, but these are game-changers for wintertime, in my humble opinion.
Good luck in the final stretch! Whether you shop online or in the store, this gift guide should help tie up the loose ends of your Christmas shopping this year.
Happy Holidays To You And Yours,
April
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